Umbrella cover

ABSTRACT

An umbrella carrier ( 1 ) adapted to receive a folded umbrella and provided with attachment means ( 5 ) for removably securing it to an article of luggage, and which includes a holster-like perforated support element ( 2 ) having openings ( 4 ) which are closed internally by water repellent porous fabric.

This invention relates to an umbrella cover which can be attached to luggage, for example briefcases, handbags, laptop bags and rucksacks.

Umbrella carriers attached to, for example, briefcases and handbags are known and are usually provided in the form of a sleeve of the same kind of material as that used in the construction of the bag itself. The intention is that the sleeve can carry a rolled collapsible-type umbrella and hold it in position. A disadvantage of this type of carrier is that the umbrella tends to retain its wet condition within the carrier and, when the carrier is not being used, that is to carry an umbrella, it is an unattractive item on the bag.

The present invention is intended to provide an umbrella carrier which not only improves the drying process for the umbrella but also allows the carrier to be removed from the bag when not required and can be transferable to another item of baggage.

According to the present invention, an umbrella carrier adapted to receive a folded umbrella and provided with attachment means for removable securing it to an article of luggage includes a holster-like perforated support element having openings which are closed internally by water repellent porous fabric.

Thus, when a wet folded umbrella is placed in the carrier it can dry out through the openings which are closed by the water repellent porous fabric.

Preferably the perforated support element is provided by a substantially cylindrical tube formed with openings in its side which are closed internally by the water repellent porous fabric.

The water repellent fabric can be in the form of a sleeve inside the cylindrical tube and reduces the likelihood of the umbrella snagging or sticking on its way into or out of the carrier and, in addition, the sleeve is given protection by the perforated support element and is less likely to be torn or damaged.

The sleeve also draws moisture off the umbrella and allows it to evaporate through the openings. This construction also reduces the likelihood of the luggage to which the carrier is attached getting wet.

The perforated support element can be made from any convenient material but is preferably formed from a synthetic plastics material or metal, it can also be formed as an open mesh or lattice.

The attachment means can be adapted to engage a carrying handle or strap on the article of luggage with which it is to be used.

The perforated support element can be flexible and can be split along its length to provide an opening, and include means for adjusting the cross-sectional diameter of the support element to accommodate umbrellas of different sizes.

Again, the perforated support element can be flexible and the cross-section of the carrier can be restrictive in relation to the cross-section of the umbrella with which it is to be used so that the support element resiliently deforms slightly when the umbrella is inserted and acts to retain it in place.

The invention can be performed in various ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a removable umbrella carrier according to the present invention attached to the handle of a briefcase;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of an alternative construction;

FIG. 3 is another diagrammatic isometric view of an alternative construction with means for attachment to the handles of, for example, a handbag; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 a removable umbrella carrier 1 according to the present invention for attachment to luggage comprises a holster-like perforated support element in the form of a substantially cylindrical tube 2 made, for example, from a light metallic material such as aluminium or a synthetic plastics material. The tube 2 has an inner lining in the form of a sleeve 3 made from a water repellent porous fabric. Four openings 4 provide perforations in the tube and are closed internally by the sleeve 3.

The tube 2 and its inner lining 3 together provide a carrier for a collapsible umbrella.

The tube 2 can be of any suitable cross-section, for example cylindrical, polygonal or even square, provided it will accept a folded umbrella.

The carrier is provided with attachment means 5 which comprise a loop of flexible material, for example, a synthetic plastics material or leather and which is attached to the support element 2 where indicated by reference numeral 6.

In FIG. 1 the carrier is shown in use on a briefcase indicated by broken lines 7 and which has a handle 8. The loop 5 is dimensioned so that it can be placed over the handle 8 and will hang on the upper side of the briefcase 7.

Thus it will be seen that the carrier can be easily attached and removed from the briefcase 7 merely by slipping it over the handle 8 and due to the openings 4 being closed by the water repellent porous fabric 3 a wet umbrella placed in the carrier can dry out. Moreover, the carrier will protect the greater part of the wet umbrella from the user and the luggage.

The arrangement is such that the carrier can easily be removed and re-attached on different pieces of luggage merely by placing it over the handle thereof or, in the case of a rucksack, placing it over the shoulder straps. If required the attachment point 6 can be provided with clips (not shown) for easy attachment and removal of the loop 5 or by use of a loop and hook type fabric (Velcro) on each of the parts. This arrangement is particularly useful when employing the holster on, for example, a rucksack to enable it to be easily attached to the shoulder straps of the rucksack if they are not easily releasable.

In an alternative construction, shown in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts but in this arrangement the cylindrical tube 2 is formed with a larger number of openings 10 in its sides so that it is, in effect, a lattice frame. It is again closed internally by a water repellent porous fabric sleeve 3.

This construction shows how the carrier can be attached to a briefcase 7 by an alternative attachment means which comprises a pair of resilient wire or plastics material hooks. Each hook is secured to the tube 2 by a rivet or other means 11 and is shaped to provide a hook end 12 which is shaped and adapted to engage the lower end of the handle 8 of the briefcase. The hooks 12 are carried on arms 13 which are sufficiently resilient to allow the hooks to be sprung inwardly to detach them from the briefcase and which will spring out again to the position shown in FIG. 2 to secure the carrier to the briefcase.

FIG. 3 shows a carrier according to the invention which can be constructed as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 but which is adapted for connection to a handle 15 of a handbag 16. The handbag has two handles and the carrier can be attached to either both of them or only one, as shown in FIG. 3. In this construction the attachment means comprises a pair of loops of fabric 17 the ends 18 of which are provided with a loop and hook material (Velcro) so that they can be pressed together. The ends 19 of the loop 17 are secured to the tube 2 by stitching, riveting or any other convenient means. Thus, once again, the carrier can be easily removed from the handbag and transferred to some other article of luggage if required.

In FIG. 3 a collapsible umbrella 20 is shown in broken lines in position in the carrier

The general construction of the carrier, as shown in FIG. 3, can be similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but FIG. 3 also shows an alternative construction for the tube, which can also be used in the other embodiments. In this arrangement the tube 2 is formed by a wire or plastics material to produce an open mesh or lattice 25 which is lined by the sleeve 3 of water repellent porous fabric.

In the constructions described above the general cross-section of the tube 2 has been cylindrical, polygonal or even square but the tube 2 could be constructed so that it is flexible and the cross-section could be slightly oval or some other slightly restrictive shape so that it will hold the umbrella in place once it has been inserted and such a slightly oval cross-sectional tube 2 is also shown in FIG. 3. In order to provide the flexibility the tube can be made from a plastics material or metal which is originally formed in a slightly oval shape, the shape being deformable to accept the umbrella due to its inherent resilience. This flexible tube 2 could also be employed on the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In another alternative construction, as shown in FIG. 4, the perforated tube 2 is made in any of the ways described above and is flexible or resiliently deformable but is split along its length to provide an opening 21. Thus the inherent resilience of the material can be employed to allow for the movement to alter the cross-sectional diameter of the tube. The tube can be formed so that it assumes a minimum diameter, the opening 21 allowing it to be resiliently opened to provide a larger cross-sectional diameter, the resilient bias towards the closed portion acting to grip the umbrella. Alternatively, the tube 2 can be formed to a larger diameter so that it can be closed to a smaller cross-sectional area and to hold it in position retaining means in the form of a clip or flexible attachment strip 22 can be provided.

The construction shown in FIG. 4 can be used for umbrellas of different sizes.

This adjustable construction can also be used in the construction shown in FIG. 1, 2 or 3 when not employing the oval or slightly constrictive shape. The tube 2 is again lined with a sleeve of water repellent porous fabric but which is not shown in FIG. 4. The attachment means (not shown) can be as set forth in any of the preceding embodiments. 

1. An umbrella carrier adapted to receive a folded umbrella and provided with attachment means for removably securing it to an article of luggage, and which includes a holster-like perforated support element having openings which are closed internally by water repellent porous fabric.
 2. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 1 in which the perforated support element is provided as a substantially cylindrical tube.
 3. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the perforated support element is lined with water repellent porous fabric in the form of a sleeve.
 4. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which said perforated support element is made from a synthetic plastics material.
 5. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 in which said perforated support element is made from metal.
 6. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the attachment means is adapted to engage a carrying handle or strap on the article of luggage with which it is to be used.
 7. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the attachment means includes attachable clips.
 8. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means includes a pair of hooks which can be resiliently adjusted to engage the luggage.
 9. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the perforated support element is formed as an open mesh or lattice.
 10. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 9 in which the perforated support element is flexible and its general cross-section is restrictive in relation to the cross-section of the umbrella with which it is to be used so that the support element resillently deforms slightly when the umbrella is inserted and acts to retain it in place.
 11. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 11 in which the cross-section of the perforated support element is slightly oval.
 12. An umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9 in which the perforated support element is split along its length to provide an opening, and including means for adjusting the cross-sectional diameter of the support element to accommodate umbrellas of different sizes.
 13. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 11 in which the means for adjusting the cross-sectional diameter of the support element is provided by the inherent resilience of the material from which it is made.
 14. An umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 13 including retaining means for holding the adjusted support element in position. 